Specialist Prosecutor Kimberly West welcomed today’s judgment in the trial of Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi as important for the rule of law in Kosovo and belated justice for victims.
The Trial Panel determined that each of the four accused bears individual criminal responsibility for the war crimes of illegal or arbitrary arrest and detention, cruel treatment, torture, and murder. Mr Thaçi was sentenced to 25 years; Mr Veseli to 18 years; Mr Selimi to 13 years; and Mr Krasniqi to 25 years.
"Today’s verdict, based on facts and law alone, is important for accountability and the rule of law in Kosovo,” the Specialist Prosecutor said. “The court has affirmed that no individual, irrespective of rank or political stature, is above the law or immune from accountability for grave international crimes.”
The Specialist Prosecutor emphasised that the case the SPO had brought was about individual criminal responsibility and did not challenge any historical narrative.
“The SPO has held individuals accountable for their actions, in accordance with its mandate, nothing more,” Ms West continued. “The SPO has not prosecuted the Kosovo Liberation Army, nor the war fought for Kosovo’s independence.
“Certain individuals exploited those war circumstances to commit grave crimes, and it is to the credit of Kosovo that those individuals are now being held accountable.”
In presenting its case, the SPO called testimony from 125 witnesses live in court and around 3,000 SPO exhibits in multiple languages were admitted into evidence.
In its judgment, the Trial Panel found that Messrs Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi were guilty of illegal or arbitrary arrest and detention of at least 385 persons, cruel treatment of at least 49 persons, torture of 303 persons, and at least 96 murders.
The crimes were committed against hundreds of civilians and persons not taking part in hostilities between April 1998 and 20 June 1999 in municipalities across Kosovo and in two districts in northern Albania.
The Specialist Prosecutor also noted that the SPO office would review the full judgment carefully in the coming days, including the six counts of crimes against humanity that did not result in convictions.
The SPO remains committed to ensuring accountability and supporting the rights of victims as the judicial process moves into its subsequent phases.